20 - Defensive

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Photo credit: pinoymountaineering.com

Meng finally arrived at the spot where the 3 guys are waiting. She forced herself to smile. No use involving them.

"Madaya kayo iniwan n'yo kami!"

It was Jose who answered, "Oy hindi ah, hinto nga kami nang hinto para hintayin kayo pero sorry na lang, ang bagal n'yo talaga maglakad."


Sensing the forced smile, Paolo knows something was off. "Kuya Wally, mabagal ito kaya mabuti pa mauna na kami. Isasabay na namin yung guide natin."

"Sige intayin lang namin si Tisoy."


They have walked a good 100 meters when Poch stopped her.

"Sthap! Malayo na tayo sa kanila. Ano problema mo Meng, okay ka lang ba? Bakit mo nga ba biglang iniwan si RJ? Saka bakit namumula pisngi mo pero salubong naman kilay mo?"

"Ang dami mong tanong. Hindi ah, mestisa lang ako at malamig dito."

"Anong mestisa pinagsasabi mo? Tisoy lang nakasabay mo, naging mestisa ka na? Nakita ko yon oy! Sige, talon pa more! If I know, nagpayakap ka lang talaga. Replay na yun eh, nakita ko na kahapon yun sa ilog. Style mo bulok!"

"Of course not! Excited lang kaya ako nung makita ko kayo." feeling her cheeks heating up again at the memory of that moment at the slope.


"Pero in fairness, insan, alam mo, mukhang may chemistry kayo. Yiheee! Kinikilig yan!"

"Tumigil ka! Anong Chemistry? Physics ang subject ngayon, nasa bundok tayo! Height, temperature at pressure ang variables. At hinaan mo boses mo, baka marinig ka, maniwala pa yon."

"Speaking of, ayun oh, tingnan mo, nakatingin sa 'yo si crush. " Bigla siyang napalingon only to find him talking to the two guys with his back to them.

"Ang bilis ng tingin mo ha? Eh di affected ka nga! Crush mo nga! hahaha!" Sensing her discomfort, he tried to appease her. "Ano ka ba Menggay, okay lang yan! Cute naman talaga eh. Siguro, ang dami n'yo nang napag-usapan no?"


Remembering the small talk and the truce, bumalik na naman ang inis niya so she chosed to keep quiet.

Seeing her eyebrows drawn together, Paolo repeated his inquiry "Huy Meng, okay ka lang ba talaga? Bakit parang naiinis ka na? May sinabi ba siya?"

She made a pabebe face to stop her cousin from teasing her but to no avail.


"Pero insan, binabawi ko na sinabi ko. Tingin ko, magiging exciting ang linggong ito. Puwede ba ko magtake ng pictures n'yo together para may resibo?"

"Subukan mo lang kuya Poch, hindi mo na makikita yang phone mo!"

"Ang pikon mo naman! O siya, lakad na! Ayun na si kuya na guide."


Meng needs to get the topic off her mind. Yes, the guide. "Nakakaintindi ba siya ng Tagalog o kailangan ng sign language?"

"Oo naman, nag-taTagalog sila. Ibig sabihin hindi n'yo napag-usapan ni RJ sa tagal n'yong magkasama?"


Oo, puro pabebe ginawa namin kaya eto napala ko! But of course, she can't tell kuya Paolo, so she turned to their guide. "Kuya, kanina pa sila guide nang guide ang tawag sa 'yo. Ano ba talaga pangalan mo?"

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